A sixties chart star affectionately known as the “king of the buskers” has died from a suspected heart attack.

Singer-songwriter Donald Partridge was found collapsed in Ashington Gardens, Peacehaven, on Tuesday afternoon, Paramedics tried to revive Mr Partridge, 68, of Downland Avenue, Peacehaven, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Partridge became an unexpected chart star in 1968 when his self-penned single Rosie reached number four in the UK singles chart.

His follow up song Blue Eyes peaked at number three the same year.

Before his brief period of chart success, Mr Partridge, who was born in Bournemouth in 1941, travelled around Europe with his guitar to busk on street corners.

He was signed in 1967 to EMI’s Columbia label by Don Paul, a former member of rock ‘n’ roll group The Viscounts, with Breakfast On Pluto becoming his final chart hit in 1969.

Although the hits dried up, he continued to perform and record, most notably recording the album The Highwayman in 2004 with Herbie Flowers, Nick Pynn and Richard Durrant.

He even returned to busking, including in and around his Sussex home.

A post mortem has established that Mr Partridge died from natural causes related to his heart.

The matter has been referred to the coroner's officer and an inquest will be held in due course.

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